Green Mountain Athletic Association

A stiff south wind and the threat of precipitation didn't keep Thanksgiving-spirited participants away from the 32nd Annual Turkey Trot. The course was in great shape, temperatures in the high 30s, and the rain held off while 485 people completed the 5K and more than 50 kids enjoyed a muddy quarter-mile race. The fastest man was Tom Cheney, 22, of Milton, a UVM senior, with a time of 16:24. He was followed in by Reed Bratches, 18, of New Canaan, CT (17:04) and Andrew Fritz, 26, of Winooski (17:09). The women's winner was Anna Holt-Gosselin, 20, of South Burlington, who finished in 19:21, more than a minute improvement on her third place finish last year. Second and third for the women were fast master Carole Hakstian, 41, of Burlington (20:20) and Orla Walsh, 22, of Baltimore, MD (20:36).

Our youngest finisher in the 5K was four years old, and the oldest we could find at the postrace raffle was 66. Traveling the farthest was a runner from Germany. New this year, we gave a cheer for quite a few runners who had completed their first-ever 5K!

As always at this event, holiday cheer was everywhere and participants were generous with food and cash donations for our beneficiary, the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Food donations totaled 1,438 pounds and money raised was $2,178.

Runners cheerfully followed our club race regulations also, none better than the gentleman who, when reminded that he could not participate with his double stroller, gracefully completed the entire 5K with one child on his shoulders and another young one trotting along (or did they take turns on the shoulders?). Congratulations also to the runner who went the distance in a roast-turkey-replica hat and to a local runner who survived a turkey-brining incident to run with an out-of-town friend. Many thanks to all who continue to make this a fun, festive and worthwhile Thankgiving event!

Volunteers: Scott Bliss, Matt Czaplinski, Antonia Opitz, Jack Treadwell, Bobby Treadwell, Ethan Treadwell, Charlie Windisch;, and Bob Maritano from the Food Shelf with his truck
Business Donations: Champlain Orchards, Clif Bar & Company, Dan’s Chocolates, EatingWell Magazine, ISIS, Katharine Monstream Studio, Hannaford, Maplehurst Florist, Run Vermont, UVM, Vermont Teddy Bear

—Anne Treadwell